Azerbaijan's Aliyev reelected in landslide victory

BAKU President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has celebrated a landslide victory in elections in which he won 84.6 percent of the vote and a third term in office. His opponents say that the elections were marked by irregularities. Azerbaijan's Aliyev reelected in landslide victory Aliyev scored an overwhelming victory in Wednesday's elections, winning 84.6 percent of the vote, while his closest competitor was left far behind - Jamal Hasanli received only 5.5 percent, the election commission announced today. "The presidential elections in Azerbaijan were a triumph of democracy. The fact that the vote was free and transparent, is another important step towards democracy," said Aliyev in his address to the nation. The 51-year-old president hardly campaigned at all, while the opposition accused him of arresting opponents to eliminate them at the polls. Aliyev in 2003 succeeded his father Heydar Aliyev as head of state. Jamil Hassan said on Thursday that he disputed the election results, and would appeal against them. "We have collected many examples of violations of election rules, there were some who voted more than once, observers were denied access to polling stations and police interfered in the electoral process," he said. (Beta/AP) Tanjug

Azerbaijan's Aliyev reelected in landslide victory

Aliyev scored an overwhelming victory in Wednesday's elections, winning 84.6 percent of the vote, while his closest competitor was left far behind - Jamal Hasanli received only 5.5 percent, the election commission announced today.

"The presidential elections in Azerbaijan were a triumph of democracy. The fact that the vote was free and transparent, is another important step towards democracy," said Aliyev in his address to the nation.

The 51-year-old president hardly campaigned at all, while the opposition accused him of arresting opponents to eliminate them at the polls.

Aliyev in 2003 succeeded his father Heydar Aliyev as head of state.

Jamil Hassan said on Thursday that he disputed the election results, and would appeal against them.

"We have collected many examples of violations of election rules, there were some who voted more than once, observers were denied access to polling stations and police interfered in the electoral process," he said.